Arvon Township principal to step down; teacher may assume duties as board seeks replacements

Lori Johnson, principal and teacher at Arvon Township School, tendered her resignation effective March 1, 2021, and the Arvon Township School Board accepted it during its Feb. 9 meeting held via Zoom. The departure triggers immediate staffing changes: office manager Diane Paulsen’s last day was announced as Friday, Feb. 12, and the board directed steps to fill the principal and business-manager roles.

Teacher Christina Waara told the board she is interested in performing principal duties; board members Mary Deline and Linda Griffith said they will meet with her to discuss responsibilities and next steps. The board also authorized placing an advertisement for a teacher to replace Johnson effective March 1.

The board was informed that Baraga Area Schools will provide temporary Business Manager services on a fee-for-service basis while Arvon Township School (ATS) recruits for a permanent hire. A Baraga representative identified as Tracy was reported to contact Paulsen to begin transferring responsibilities.

The board accepted the resignations and instructed staff to proceed with recruitment and transition tasks. No hiring decisions for the principal role were finalized at the meeting.